Can bad hips get better?

Spudlet

Spudlet

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When I got Henry, the rescue told me he had hip dysplasia, and that he had been x-rayed. However, I take him to the same vets they use and they don't have any x-rays for him on file. He can jump so high (he gets level with my face), and he lies with his legs out behind him, which I thought was meant to be a sign of good hips?

So, is there any way that his hips could have recovered as a result of him being leaner and fitter now?
 
I would have thought that his hips would get much better now he's fitter, healthier, going for long walks etc etc. However if it were me (and Im paranoid!), I'd get the vets to do another xray to be sure.

Either way sounds like he's going to be very healthy for a long time yet!!

With regards to the legs out behind him, I think i was told that was bad for them? But not sure!
 
The actual placement of the hip in the socket can't get better, but there is no doubt that increased muscle tone will help a dog with hd. As you will no doubt have gathered from all my and CCs posts on hip scoring, the only true way to tell how bad hips are is to have the x rays scored. But I really wouldn't bother in Henrys case, he is fit and well and very active, so you really don't need to know do you. You are following the ideal regime for a dog with bad hips, so you certainly aren't going to harm him. I had a JRT who had her hip joint removed and she stretched her legs back, have seen other dogs with really good hips do it. Flexibility in the hip sockets would apply to either really so don't really think it is a guide, sorry.
 
as has been said, the actual joint cant improve but the supporting structures round it can. I know of a BC whom at 8 months was diagnosed with bad HD. He was being trained up as a serious competitive agility prospect... many (sadly) would have given up and passed him on, but the owner worked with him and a chiro and physio, and did hydrotherapy. Lots of people said he would never be any good.... lol, that was several years ago and that dog now competes at champ level and is 100% sound. His turns are phenomenal.
 
I doubt the actual joint will get better, thats not really how it works. Certainly having him well muscled to support the hip joint will help a lot, but I would not advise letting him jump.
 
Different scenario with my Springer: arthritis after his cruciates snapped, both knees replaced. The vet said he should lead a normal life after the ops, but as a precaution, he is not allowed to belt round and he is permanently on high strength glucosamine. I've shortened his walks and if there's any sign of discomfort, it's back on to lead walks til he's better.

I'd be discouraging the jumping purely because the main impact will be on his hinds as he goes back down.
JakeCloseRunning.jpg

Flying down the path after recovery of 6 months.
 
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When Beastie was humunga dog she used to really struggle with her hips. She would have been very stiff and limping after a half hour walk. Now she is super slim and fit and hasn't had any issues with them since :D (She is now 9 years old)
 
As mentioned the actual joints, if damaged, will never improve, but muscle building will help.
The only way you can gauge the 'damage' if there is any is to x-ray in a specific way and have them scored by the BVA. Although to people like me and MM you can look at a plate and say JESUS CHRIST! But thankfully that does not happen much :p
I would, like another poster says, allow lots of jumping in and out of the car, over obstacles if you have any concerns but he sounds like he is fit for it.
 
TBH I don't much encourage him to jump - it's stopping him that is the trick:D He is the kind that will go under rather than over any obstacle if possible anyway, he just likes to look people in the eye every so often:eek:

I know if it's HD it wouldn't improve (should have made that clearer) but I was questioning whether he had actually had HD at all, given the lack of x-rays I sometimes wonder if the DT lady had got muddled, and that he was just struggling due to having been a porker.

I am probably going to give agility a go with him for a laugh and to improve his heelwork, but we will make it baby agility - so the smallest jumps and wide weaves etc, like you do for young dogs that are still growing:)
 
Our Golden Retriever has severe HD and couldn't really cope with long walks hence also starting to put a lot of weight on.
However, 6 months down the line, she is at the lower level of her suggested weight range, swims once a fortnight at canine hydrotherapy and can cope with long walks with our GSD :) she is also on one Seraquin a day rather than two and a half.
They can never get better, but muscle tone as said previously can improve tremendously and this will give the dog the support they need in order to lead a normal canine life :)
 
Our vet told us that lying with their legs out behind them is a sign of 'bad' hips. If we had known this we would have had our boy on a supplement years ago. Ho hum
 
I've heard it can mean both!:p

Can't afford x-rays (unless they are needed in an emergency of course) so I guess I'll just have to carry on as I am now, and maybe ask the vets to look for the old missing x-rays again next time I am there.

Thanks for all your advice:)
 
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